Michigan hasn't lost to Minnesota since 2005, and it's favored to extend that streak this year.

But the Gophers also seem to be better than the team that arrived in Ann Arbor last year for a 58-0 whipping.

Phil Miller, who covers the team for the Minnesota Star-Tribune, was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Gophers and why they're trending up under second-year coach Jerry Kill:

MLive: Freshman Philip Nelson has looked good since taking over for MarQueis Gray at quarterback two weeks ago. How has the offense evolved since the change?

Phil Miller: The offense itself hasn't really changed much, because Nelson's strengths are similar to Gray's. It's still the same zone-read setup they were using before, and Nelson runs the ball himself about as often as Gray did. He doesn't have the elusiveness of Gray, but Nelson has proven to be a more accurate passer. The play-calling changed last week, to take advantage of that skill and of Purdue's overplaying by the cornerbacks; the Gophers used a series of double moves to get receivers open behind the secondary, and it produced some big gains. It's becoming clear that Nelson fits this offense well.

MLive: Minnesota posted a somewhat surprising rout of Purdue last week. Is this a sign of a turnaround, or just a good day for the Gophers?

Miller: Too early to tell, but the feeling of optimism around the program has certainly returned. The Gophers' defense had been ripped apart by Big Ten running games, but after Purdue's first drive, that was never a problem again. The pass defense also made some big plays, and could have had three or four more interceptions than they one they had. Now, did the defense take a big step forward or is Purdue the worst offense the Gophers have faced? Probably a little of both.

But by far the biggest factor in the change is the quarterback, which is why people feel good about the program. Gray had a bad day in the opener, rarely threw in the second game, then got hurt in the third, and has been hobbled ever since. His backup, Max Shortell, had some good moments in relief, but was inconsistent. Nelson, who's only 19, was supposed to redshirt, but he has played extremely well in his first two games. It's not only changed their results, but the whole atmosphere around the program. Amazing how much can change when the quarterback plays well.

MLive: Michigan whipped Minnesota 58-0 last year, but the Gophers seem to be playing better this year. How have they changed since Michigan last faced
them?

Miller: As I said, their quarterback is far more of a two-way threat than before, and their offensive linemen are a year more experienced. They've had some injuries on the line in the past month, but they shouldn't be nearly as overwhelmed by Michigan's size as they were last year. And defensively, they are evolving into a pretty good pass-coverage team. They still don't create enough turnovers, but they seem to be getting close. There's no doubt that the 2012 Gophers would whip their 2011 team pretty easily.

MLive:What matchup favors Minnesota the most in this game?

Miller: Well, on paper it has to be the pass defense, doesn't it? The Gophers are ranked eighth nationally in pass-efficiency defense, and while that probably overstates their actual skill level, they have done a great job of keeping quarterbacks from doing too much damage. Can't say the same for the running game, which is why Denard Robinson is so terrifying, but I don't have to tell Wolverines fans that Michigan hasn't had much luck passing the ball so far. The Gophers play two senior cornerbacks in Troy Stoudermire and Michael Carter who have improved immensely this year, and they had four interceptions dropped or overturned by officials last week.

MLive:Minnesota snaps its four-game losing streak to Michigan if ...

Miller: Denard Robinson watches the game in street clothes. Or at least doesn't spend all afternoon with linebackers chasing him from behind. The Gophers have been vulnerable to the running game, and that's before facing anyone with Robinson's speed. They'll want to keep the game close, the score pretty low, perhaps even hold Michigan without a touchdown, as if such a thing was possible. (Sorry.) Their offense seems to be improving, but asking them to score more than 20-25 points on Michigan's defense doesn't seem feasible.

Phil Miller's prediction: Nelson has been practically mistake-free in his first two games, but the degree of difficulty takes a big jump this week. Not sure he has enough weapons yet to keep up with Michigan, especially not if Robinson is healthy enough to run on the Gophers. Wolverines 24, Gophers 13